Machine for the manufacture of coiled springs.



No. 882,385. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. N. S. HARTER.

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GOILED SPRINGS. APPLICATION FILED DEO.2.1907.

4 SHBETSSHBET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR MW; 1 5mm,

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF OOILED SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2.1907.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR No. 882,885. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

N. s. HARTER.

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COILED SPRINGS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.2,1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 882,385. PATENTED MAR.17, 1908.

N. S. HARTER.

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF OOILED SPRINGS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC.2.1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wn'nzsszs 77.ga'vi%l A MWM W AME UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NOAH S. HARTER, OF WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application'flled. December 2, 1907. Serial No. 404,821.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NOAH S. HARTER, of Waukegan, Lake county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Machine for the Manufacture of Coil-Springs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is 9. Ian view, partially diagrammatic, of one orm of machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of the machine; Fi 4 is a detail view illustrating the action of t e coiling, cutting and setting devices; and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the cutter-open ating clutch.

My invention has relation to machines for the manufacture of coil springs, and is desi ned to provide a machine by means of w ich either 0 en or closed coil springs may be rapidly coi ed, set, squared, and out, in various sizes and lengths, by a continuous automatic operation; and which may also be adjusted so as to coil and cut springs of the desired dimensions without squaring them.

A further object is'to provide a machine of this character whose adjustment to produce a spring of the desired character and dimensions is under the immediate control of the operator, the adjustable parts controlling the several adjustments being made' of such flexible character that the adjustment of any one member can be quickly made without interfering with the adjustment of any other member.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

which will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention asdefined in the appended claims.

In these drawings, the numeral .5 desi nates the main frame of the machine whic supports the operating mechanism.

6 designates a plurality of coacting feed rollers, arranged in pairs, and between which 4 the wire 7 to be formed into s rings is fed,

, wire guides 6 being placed adjacent to the several pairs of these rollers.

8 is the main driving pulley, which is mounted to run freely on the shaft 9. Keyed to this shaft is a disk 10 which forms one member of a clutch within the rim of the pulley 8, said clutch being controlled by an electro-magnet 11 whose current is supplied by the circuit connections a, b. This magnetic clutch may be of any suitable or well known character, such for instance as that described and claimed in my Patent No. 870,166, dated November 5th, 1907, and need not be here described in detail. The construction and arrangement of the clutch is such that when an electric current is supplied to the magnet 11 through the circuit connections a, b, the movable clutch member controlled by the magnet will engage the fixed clutch member 10 to drive the shaft 9.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 9 is a pinion 9*,

which drives the series of rollers 6 through the gears 9 mounted on the shafts 12 and stub shaft 12 The shaft 9 also carries a inion 9, which drives a train of gears 13 an 14. The gear 14 is loosely mounted on a shaft 16, and rigidly. secured to the hub 'of this gear is a grooved disk 15 which constitutes the driving member of a ball clutch.

17 is the driven member of this clutch, which is rigidly keyed to the shaft 16.

18 is a ball, which is located between'the grooved surface of the disk 15 and a plane 17 a which is carried by the driven member 17.

19 is a lifting device, which passes underneath the ball 18 for the purpose of holding it out of driving engagement with the disk 15 and plane 17.

20 is an electro-magnet located adjacent to the ball clutch, and whose armature 21 is connected to the lifting device 19. The magnet 20 is supplied with current by the circuit connections 0, d in the manner more fully hereinafter described. When this mag net is supplied with current, its armature 21 is attracted to withdraw the device 19 from beneath the ball 18, and the latteris then caused by gravity or other means to wedge itself between the face of the inclined plane 17 a and the groove of the clutch member 15, thereby locking the clutch.

Geared to the shaft 16 by means of the shaft l6 andbevel gear wheels 16, is a cam 22, 22*, the member 22" being adjustably secured to the member 22 in order that the peripheral contour of the ca may be changed for the purpose hereinafter described. Adjustably secured to the cam 22, 22 to rotate therewith is a circuit-closing cam 23, which isudesigned at a definite point in its revolution, to close the circuit between two contact devices 0, p, to which are connected the circuit wires m, n.

24 is a lever pivoted to the frame at 24, and whose free end is held in contact with the periphery of the cam 22, 22 by the action of a spring 24. Connected to the lever 24 is a rod or bar 25 around which the spring 24 is coiled, and which is secured by a set-screw. 24. The bar 25 at its outer end carries a pltch tool 26, which determines the pitch of the coil in the manner hereinafter described.

27 is a belt-wheel, which is loosely mounted on a shaft 27", and which is connected with said shaft through any suitable clutch mechanism. In the arrangement shown, this clutch consists (see Figs. 5 and 6) of a clutch-disk 28, keyed to the shaft 27 and designed to be put in driving connection with the inner rim 27 of the wheel 27, by the clutch rollers 28*. The disk 28 has the peripheral recesses or depressions 28 and when the rollers lie in these recesses, the rim 27 will turn freely around said disk. When,

however, the rollers are moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the clutch-engagement is effected. The rollers are thus moved by a loosely mounted plate or disk 28, having an inwardly rojecting flange 28 with openings 28 t erein, in Which the rollers 28 lie. The disk is normally held in position to keep the rollers in their non-driving positions by the engagementof the lug or nose 28 thereof with a movable stop 29. This stop is arranged to be withdrawn atthe proper time by means of an electro-magnet 30 which is supplied with current by the circuit connections, 2, i. When so withdrawn, the disk 28 is rotated by a spring 2-9 connected thereto at one end, and at the other end to an arm 29 fixed on the hub of the disk 28, to move the rollers 28 into clutching position. The rollers remain in this position until the stop 29 is released by the magnet, and is moved by gravity or by a spring 29 back into the path of the lug 28 The engagement of the lug with this stop will move the rollers out of clutching positions. Rigidly. secured to the shaft 27 a is a crank disk 27, to the crank of which is attached one end of a connecting rod or pitman 31. Connected to the opposite end of this connecting rod is a cutter bar 32 which is mounted to reciprocate under the action of the crank and pitman in the ssaesa whose opposite end is ada ted to make an electric contact between t e two terminals .7: and y, to which are connected the circuit wires 5, f. The stem is normally held out of circuit closing position by a spring 34*.

36 is a setting tool for the purpose of removing the excess pitch from thespring as it is coiled, thus eliminating a subsequent operation for this purpose. The action of this tool is to remove the excess pitch by pressing each coil backwardly against a later coil, as

more fully described in my Patent No.-

873,429, of December 10, 1907.

37 is a coiling die, which is so located. as to cause the wire 7 to coil around the forming arbor or mandrel 38 as the wire is fed into the machine by means of the rollers 6. This die is made adjustable towards and away from the mandrel for the purpose of varying the diameter of the coil. The end of the arbor 38 (see Fig; 4), is shaped to'form a cutting edge 38*, which cooperates with an adjustable and interchangeable cutting tool 39 mounted at the free end of the reciprocating cutter bar 32.

40 is a friction brake for retarding the movement of the cutter actuating shaft 27 41 is a disk of fiber or other insulating material, which is rigidly secured to the shaft 27 so as to turn therewith. Secured to this disk is a metallic segment 42, arranged to project beyond one face of the disk so as to come in contact with and close an electric circuit between a pair of brushes 9, h, to which are connected circuit wires g, h. The purpose of this segment 42 is to close the circuit between this pair of brushes when the; cutter shaft is not in motion, and to break the circuit at this point as soon as such shaft comes into action.

Referring now to the circuit controlling devices, for controlling the electric circuit hereinbefore referred to, B designates a battery or other source of electrical energy. 46 is a make-and-break switch, which controls the various circuits supplied b thefbattery.

47 is a relay having a movab e armature 49 for 'the purpose of shifting 'the currents from the circuit a, b, which supplies the clutch magnet 11 to the circuit 41, e, which controls the operation of the clutch 28.

48 is a circuit relay having a movable armature 50 which is for the purpose of establishing a short-circuit around the contacts as,

tery to the conductor h, to the segment 42, to the conductor 9, to the armature 49, to conductor a, to clutch magnet 11, and to conductor 6 and back to the battery, The

ThGSWltCh 46 is closed, which causes current to flow from the batclosing of the circuit through the magnets 11 causes the clutch to lock, thereby putting into action the series of feed rollers 6 to thereby feed wire into the coiling mechanism. The wire will continue to be coileduntil its outer end comes incontact with the device 34 .The pressure of the coil against plete revolution: hasthis device will close the circuit through thecontactsm, y, and by Way of the conductors e, f, to and: through the switch 51 (which is in thedotted position shown in Fig. l)' to-the conductor a, to the magnet 20, to conductor d, to conductor g, tosegment 42, to conductor h, thus completingthe-circuit through the magnet 20, which throws the clutch. 15,

17 into operation, which in turn causes the cams22 and 23 to rotate. When the cams 22. and 23' commence to rotate, the coiling mechanism continues to coil, but' without giving the coil any pitch. Incidentally the movement of the cam 23 closes the contacts 0-, p. This. closes the circuit of the-conductripping the clutch controlling the cutter.

The cutting mechanism is now thrown into action, and! as soon as-the cutter shaft commences to'rotate, the segment 42 is moved,

thereby breaking the circuit between. the

conductors g, h, which opens all the electric circuits momentarily. The opening of the circuit throughthe-magnet 30'causes the part 29to-move ack into position to throw the clutch: 28 out of'action as soon as one comeen made. During this time the cutting tool 39 has beenactuated and a portion of the spring will have beencut off. The closing of the circuit be-' tween the contacts at, y also closes the circuit through the relay 48, which shifts the armature 50 and immediately establishes 2 short circuit around at, y which continues during the further period in which the coil is pressing against the device 34, and until the circuit 1sv opened at the brushes 9, h by the rotation of the cutter actuating shaft. The purpose of short circuiting these contacts at this time, is prevent the burning of thesecontacts, whichwould otherwise occur, due

eter of thewire). Inasmuch as the cam 22 is driven from the shaft 9, the amount of wire which is coiled without; pitch will. vary according to the adjustment of'the adjustable portion 22 of the cam 22. Sufficient wire is coiled at one operation of the cam. 22. for the square on the last end of one spring and that on the first end of the succeeding spring. To accomplish this, the cam 23 is so timed as to stop the coiling mechanism and actuate the cuttin mechanism to cut the wire at. the middle point of the close coiled. portion. If the cutter should operate too soon or too late, all that is necessary is to'shift the cam 23 either to: the right or tothe left inorderto locate the out. correctly. If more on less wire is desired for the squared ends of; the springs, the movable cam portion 22' may quickly be shifted backward: or forward; toregulate this feature for larger or smaller springs. The length of the spring may be quickly regulated by shifting the device 34 towards or away from the coiling mechanism as may be desired, while the diameter oi he springs is regulatedby moving the adjuste is 37 towards or away from the arbor or mandrel 38.

When.- it is desired to form. open coil springs which are to be coiled, set and out without squaring, all that. is necessary is to move the switch 51: from the osition shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1 over into-contactat 52. This opens the circuit of the magnet 20 and prevents therotationof the cams 22and 23. The pitch tool 26 will; therefore, be held inv operative position during the entire coiling operation. No other change in: the parts is necessary.

To form close coiled springs;.thescrew 24 is loosened, thereby allowing. the pitch tool to be held back out of operative position. The switch 51 is left'on the contact 52. To change themachine back; to adapt it to square the ends of the springs, the-screw 24 isagain adjusted and the switch .51' is shifted to its other position.

It will be obvious that various changes ma be made in the machine shown and described. Thus, various forms of clutches may be employed'for controlling; the operation of the coiling, cutting and squaring I mechanisms; those mechanisms may them selves be variously modified; and the several electric circuits and their closing devices may be arranged in any suitable manner.

The advantages of my invention result from the provision of the several mechanisms whereby the operations of coiling, set-' ting, squaring and cutting, or of coiling, setting, and-cutting, without squaring, areautomatically effected, and are all erformed acter of the work done, and the dimensions of the springs formed is under the control of the operator and the machine can be quickly set up for difierent jobs, or for springs having efiect the starting and stoppingof the coiling entirely different dimensions, without interchanging any oftheparts. The entire machine is simple in its construction and operation. I

I claim:

1. In mechanism for forming coil springs, Wire coiling means, an electrically controlled clutch for controlling the operation of the coiling means, a cutting mechanism, an electrically controlled clutch for controlling the operation of the cutting mechanism, controlling circuits for said clutch, and means for automatically controlling said circuits to means and the operation of the cutting means in propertimerelation to the starting and stopping of the coiling means; substantially as described.

2. In a machine for forming coil springs, coiling means, an electrically controlled clutch for operating the coiling means, a cutting mechanism, an electrically controlled clutch for operating the cutting mechanism,

' and means actuated by the movement of'the coil for the purpose of stopping the coiling mechanismfand tripping the cutting mech- I anism; substantially as described. a

3. A machine for forming coil'springs, a

' coiling mechanism, electro-magnetically controlled gearing for operating the coiling mechanism, cutting mechanism, means for electrically controlling the time of operation of the cutting mechanism, and contact devices actuated by the movement of the coil as it is formed for effecting the operationof the coiling and cutting mechanisms; substantially as described.

4. In a machine for forming cod springs, a

coiling mechanism, means for regulating the regulating tool out of operative position and then again advancing the same, and devices for rendering the said means inoperative at will; substantially as described.

6. In a machine for forming wire coils, a coiling mechanism,-a setting mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a device for automaticallyregulating the pitch of the coil, and

means for periodically rendering said device inoperative to wind coils or turns without ically o erating the cutting mechanism in time re ation to the operation of the cam mechanism; substantially as described.

9. In a machine for forming coil springs, a coiling mechanism, a tool for regulating the pitch of the coils as they are formed, cam means for periodically withdrawing the pitch tool and then again advancing the same, and

means for rendering the cam mechanism inoperative; substantially as described.

10. In a machine for forming wire coils, a coiling mechanism, a tool .for regulating the pitch of the coils as they are formed, and

means for periodically advancin and retracting the pitch regulating too? into and out of operation; substantially as described.

11. In a machine for forming wirecoils, a coiling mechanism having means for, regulating the diameter of the coils, a tool for regulating the pitch of the coils, a cutting mechanism, electrically controlled .clutches for controlling the operation of the coiling and cutting mechanisms, controlling circuits for said clutches, and circuit closing devices 0perated by the movement of theformedcoil to first stop the coiling mechanism and subsequently start the cutting mechanism; substantially as described.

12. In a machine for forming coil sprin s, a coiling mechanism, an electro-magnetica y controlled driving clutch therefor, a cutting mechanism, an electro-magnetically controlled driving clutch for the cuttin mechanism, a pitch-regulating device, and means operated by the movement of the formed coil for stopping the coilin mechanism and actuating t e cutting mec anism; substantially as described.

13. In mechanism for forming coil springs, a coiling mechanism, a pitch regulatin tool, a controlling device for moving sai tool into and out of operative relation to the coil-\ ing mechanism, and means controlled by the formed coil for first causing the movement of the said-tool to an inoperative position and for subsequently stoppin the coiling mechanism; substantially as escribed.

14. In a machine for forming coil sprin s, a coilin mechanism, a tool for regulating the pitch 0 the coils as they are formed, an adjustable cam mechanism for. advancing and pitch regulating tool, a cam for 1 .ing the stop retracting the pitch-regulating tool, and a device operating in time relation to the cam mechanismfor controlling the sto ping of the coiling mechanism; substantial y as described.

15. In a machine for forming wire coils, a coiling .Inechanism, an electro-ma netically controlled clutch for controlling the operal tion of the coiling mechanism, a contact device located in the path of the formed coil, a controlling the operative position of said tool, means controlled by the contact device for controllingthe operation of the cam, a device operating in time relation to the cam for controling of the coiling mechanism, a l cuttin mec anism, and means for automatica y operating the cutting mechanism when the coiling mechanism stops; substantially as described.

16. In a machine for forming coil springs," coiling means, a contact device located adj acent to the coilin means and arranged to be engaged by the ormed coil, contacts and connections causing the engagement of said coil with said device to control an electric circuit, and means for short-circuiting the contacts closed by said devices as soon as the last-named circuit has been closed substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.-

NOAH S. HARTER. Witnesses:

ARTHUR C. WARD, W. D. WHYTE. 

